A
casual stroll through most major U.S. cities would provide ample
opportunity to encounter numerous stickers, buttons, t-shirts, and
window signs bearing anti-war messages. Well, maybe not exactly
"anti-war," but more like: anti-THIS-war. There's been some version of
a peace movement in America for over a century, but far too many of
those speaking out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq are not strictly
"anti-war." From what I can tell, more than a few of them have
absolutely no problem with: wars started by their [sic] party and/or
wars that the U.S. easily wins [sic].
Case in point: Operation Iraqi Freedom
[sic] has provoked far more protest/outrage than 78 days of U.S./NATO
bombing over Yugoslavia in 1999 ever did. Where were all the Hitler
moustaches and facile Nazi analogies when it was Bill Clinton ordering
the use of cruise missiles and depleted uranium in the name of
humanitarianism [sic]?
Well, don't think for a second that the powers-that-be aren't hip to
this irrational trend. "As the Iraq war gets more unpopular, the
environment for Republican candidates erodes," said Republican
strategist Mark Campbell recently told the New York Times.
Meanwhile, Democratic candidates suddenly can't stop talking about
Iraq. "Iraq and foreign policy are to a large extent albatrosses
around the Republicans' neck this year," New York Senator Charles
Schumer (Democrat) explains. "And they don't know what to do about
it."
So, dig this: You're a Democrat in the Senate or the House. You've
assured your constituents that you are not soft on terror. You've
supported the invasion of Iraq and voted in favor of all subsequent
funding bills. You've helped spread wild theories about WMD and hinted
at a possible connection between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein. You've
passionately and unconditionally pronounced your support for the
troops, choosing to view the massacres, rapes, and torture as
"anomalies." Most recently, you've voted for the draconian Military
Commissions Act. Now, with the mid-term elections just weeks away, you
find it politically expedient to position yourself as anti-war [sic]
... and, of course, the public is buying it like it was a new iPod. A
New York Times-CBS News Poll taken in early October found that
two-thirds of respondents "disapproved of Mr. Bush's handling of the
war and 66 percent said the war was going somewhat or very badly." In
addition, according to the Times, "45 percent said Democrats
were more likely to make the right decision on Iraq, compared with 34
percent of Republicans."
While the Democrats pretend to be Cindy Sheehan for a month, their
rivals, well, here's Mark Campbell again: "Only in an election year
this complicated can Republicans be happy that Mark Foley knocked the
Iraq war off the front page."
By equating U.S. military intervention with the Bush regime, the
anti-war crowd is aiding and abetting this subterfuge. Anti-war
doesn't just mean anti-Bush and it isn't a useful mask to wear at an
election season costume party. The label "anti-war" signifies one as
being against all war no matter what political party has commenced the
invasion, the bombing, the sanctions, or the covert operations. Until
the anti-war movement is guided by genuine anti-war sentiment, it'll
play right into the hands of the two-party [sic] game ... a game with
no long-term winners.
Mickey Z.
is the author of several books, most recently 50
American Revolutions You're Not Supposed to Know (Disinformation
Books). He can be found on the Web at:
www.mickeyz.net.
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